SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant x
Filed by a party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement | ¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
x Definitive Proxy Statement | ||
¨ Definitive Additional Materials | ||
¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-2. |
MUNIHOLDINGS FUND, INC.
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND, INC.
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
x | No fee required. |
¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-12. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
(5) | Total fee paid: |
¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
¨ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) | Amount previously paid: |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
(3) | Filing Party: |
(4) | Date Filed: |
MUNIHOLDINGS FUND, INC.
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND, INC.
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.
P.O. Box 9011
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011
NOTICE OF 2003 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 25, 2003
TOTHE STOCKHOLDERSOF
MUNIHOLDINGS FUND, INC.
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND, INC.
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (each, a “Meeting” and collectively, the “Meetings”) of each of MuniHoldings Fund, Inc., MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc., Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. and Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc. (each a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) will be held at the offices of Fund Asset Management, L.P., 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey, on Monday, August 25, 2003 at the time specified for each Fund in Exhibit A to the Combined Proxy Statement for the following purposes:
(1) | To elect a Board of Directors of each Fund to serve for the ensuing year and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal; and |
(2) | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Each Fund’s Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 26, 2003 as the record date for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the applicable Fund’s Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting for any Fund in which you own shares.Stockholders who do not expect to attend the Meeting in person are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly in the envelope provided for this purpose. If you have been provided with the opportunity on your proxy card or voting instruction form to provide voting instructions via telephone or the Internet, please take advantage of these prompt and efficient voting options. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of each Fund.
If you have any questions regarding the enclosed proxy material or need assistance in voting your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, Georgeson Shareholder, at 1-800-645-4519.
By Order of the Boards of Directors
BRIAN D. STEWART
Secretary of MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. and MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc.
BRADLEY J. LUCIDO
Secretary of Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. and Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc.
Plainsboro, New Jersey
Dated: July 17, 2003
COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT
MUNIHOLDINGS FUND, INC.
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND, INC.
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.
P.O. Box 9011
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011
2003 ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
AUGUST 25, 2003
INTRODUCTION
This Combined Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of each of MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (“MuniHoldings”), MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc. (“MuniHoldings Ins”), Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (“Debt Strategies”), and Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc. (“SHIP”), (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) to be voted at the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of each Fund (each, a “Meeting” and collectively, the “Meetings”), to be held at the offices of Fund Asset Management, L.P. (“FAM”), 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey, on Monday, August 25, 2003 at the time specified in Exhibit A hereto. The approximate mailing date of this Combined Proxy Statement is July 21, 2003.
For ease and clarity of presentation, shares of common stock are referred to as “Common Stock,” and shares of auction market preferred stock are referred to as “AMPS.” With respect to MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins, shares of Common Stock and AMPS are collectively referred to as “Shares,” and the holders of the outstanding Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, are referred to as “Stockholders.”
All properly executed proxies received prior to a Meeting will be voted at that Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as provided therein. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, such proxies will be votedfor the election of the Director nominees of the applicable Fund to serve for the ensuing year. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the exercise thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the applicable Fund at that Fund’s address indicated above or by voting in person at the Meeting.
The Board of Directors of each Fund has fixed the close of business on June 26, 2003 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the applicable Fund’s Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. Stockholders on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares having cumulative voting rights. As of the Record Date, each Fund had outstanding the number of Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, indicated in Exhibit A. To the knowledge of each Fund, as of the Record Date, no person is the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of any Fund or, with respect to MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins, five percent of the outstanding AMPS, of such Funds. This Combined Proxy Statement is being provided to the holders of Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, of each Fund.
The Board of Directors of each Fund knows of no business other than that mentioned in Item 1 of the Notice of Meeting that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meetings, the Board of Directors of each Fund will be elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders of that Fund and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. The nominees are Ronald W. Forbes, Terry K. Glenn, Cynthia A. Montgomery, Charles C. Reilly, Kevin A. Ryan, Roscoe S. Suddarth, Richard R. West and Edward D. Zinbarg. It is intended that all properly executed proxies will be voted (unless such authority has been withheld in the proxy or revoked as described herein) for the Nominee-Directors.
Fund | AMPS | Other | ||
MuniHoldings | Reilly, West | Forbes, Glenn, Montgomery, Ryan, Suddarth, Zinbarg | ||
MuniHoldings Ins | Reilly, West | Forbes, Glenn, Montgomery, Ryan, Suddarth, Zinbarg | ||
Debt Strategies | N/A | Forbes, Glenn, Montgomery, Reilly, Ryan, Suddarth, West, Zinbarg | ||
SHIP | N/A | Forbes, Glenn, Montgomery, Reilly, Ryan, Suddarth, West, Zinbarg |
The class of Stockholders solicited and entitled to vote on the proposal are outlined in the following chart.
Fund | Class of | Election of | Election of Other Directors | |||
MuniHoldings | Common Stock | No | Yes | |||
MuniHoldings | AMPS | Yes | Yes | |||
MuniHoldings Ins | Common Stock | No | Yes | |||
MuniHoldings Ins | AMPS | Yes | Yes | |||
Debt Strategies | Common Stock | N/A | Yes | |||
SHIP | Common Stock | N/A | Yes |
The Board of Directors of each Fund knows of no reason why any of the nominees will be unable to serve, but in the event of any such unavailability, the proxies received will be voted for such substitute nominee or nominees as the Board of Directors of such Fund may recommend.
Certain information concerning the nominees, is set forth below. Additional information concerning the nominees is set forth in Exhibit B to this Combined Proxy Statement.
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Biographical Information
Certain biographical and other information relating to the Director nominee who is an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), of each Fund, is set forth below:
Name, Address† and Age | Position(s) | Term of | Principal Occupation(s) | Number of | Public | |||||
Terry K. Glenn†† (62) | President** and Director | President and Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | President and Chairman of the FAM/MLIM-advised funds since 1999; Chairman (Americas Region) of MLIM from 2000 to 2002; Executive Vice President of FAM and MLIM (which terms as used herein include their corporate predecessors) from 1983 to 2002; President of FAM Distributors, Inc. (“FAMD”) from 1986 to 2002, and Director thereof from 1991 to 2002; Executive Vice President and Director of Princeton Services, Inc. (“Princeton Services”) from 1993 to 2002; President of Princeton Administrators, L.P. (“Princeton Administrators”) from 1988 to 2002; Director of Financial Data Services, Inc. from 1985 to 2002. | 114 registered investment companies consisting of 159 portfolios | None |
† | P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011. |
†† | Mr. Glenn is an “interested person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Fund based on his former positions with MLIM, FAM, FAMD, Princeton Services and Princeton Administrators, and/or his ownership of securities issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“ML&Co.”). |
* | As a Director, Mr. Glenn serves until his successor is elected and qualified, until December 31 of the year in which he turns 72, or until his death, resignation, or removal as provided in each Fund’s by-laws, charter or by statute. |
** | Elected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Funds. |
*** | The complex of funds advised by FAM and its affiliate, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, L.P. (“MLIM”), (“FAM/MLIM-Advised Funds”). |
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Certain biographical and other information relating to the Director nominees who are not “interested persons,” as defined by the Investment Company Act (“non-interested Directors”), of each Fund is set forth below.
Name, Address† | Position Held with each Fund | Term of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of FAM/MLIM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen | Public Directorships | |||||
Ronald W. Forbes (62) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Professor Emeritus of Finance, School of Business, State University of New York at Albany since 2000 and Professor thereof from 1989 to 2000; International Consultant, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C. from 1995 to 1999. | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | None | |||||
Cynthia A. Montgomery (50) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Professor, Harvard Business School since 1989; Associate Professor, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University from 1985 to 1989; Associate Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Michigan from 1979 to 1985; Director, UnumProvident Corporation since 1990 and Director, Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. since 1995. | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | UnumProvident Corporation (insurance products); Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (manufacturing) | |||||
Charles C. Reilly (72) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Self-employed financial consultant since 1990; President and Chief Investment Officer of Verus Capital, Inc. from 1979 to 1990; Senior Vice President of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Inc. from 1973 to 1990; Adjunct Professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Business from 1990 to 1991; Adjunct Professor, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1990; Partner, Small Cities Cable Television from 1986 to 1997. | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | None | |||||
Kevin A. Ryan (70) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Founder and currently Director Emeritus of the Boston University Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character and Director thereof from 1989 to 1999; Professor from 1982 to 1999 and currently Professor Emeritus of Education, Boston University; formerly taught on the faculties of The University of Chicago, Stanford University and Ohio State University. | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | None |
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Name, Address† and Age** | Position Held with each Fund | Term of Office* and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of FAM/MLIM- Advised Funds and Portfolios Overseen | Public Directorships | |||||
Roscoe S. Suddarth (67) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | President, Middle East Institute, from 1995 to 2001; Foreign Service Officer, United States Foreign Service, from 1961 to 1995; Career Minister, from 1989 to 1995; Deputy Inspector General, U.S. Department of State, from 1991 to 1994; U.S. Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, from 1987 to 1990. | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | None | |||||
Richard R. West (65) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Professor of Finance from 1984 to 1994, Dean from 1984 to 1993 and currently Dean Emeritus of New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business Administration. Director of Bowne & Co., Inc. (financial printers), Vornado Realty Trust, Inc. (real estate holding company) and Alexander’s Inc. (real estate company). | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | Bowne & Co., Inc. (financial printers); Vornado Operating Company (real estate company); Vornado Realty Trust, Inc. (real estate holding company); Alexander’s, Inc. (real estate company) | |||||
Edward D. Zinbarg (68) | Director | Director of each Fund since the year listed in Exhibit B. | Self-employed financial consultant since 1994; Executive Vice President of the Prudential Insurance Company of America from 1988 to 1994; Former Director of Prudential Reinsurance Company and former Trustee of the Prudential Foundation. | 45 registered investment companies consisting of 50 portfolios | None |
† | The address of each non-interested Director is P.O. Box 9095, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9095. |
* | Each Director serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified, until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 72, or until his or her death, resignation, or removal as provided in each Fund’s by-laws, charter or by statute. |
** | Each of the Director nominees is a member of the Audit and Oversight Committee of each Fund. |
Audit and Oversight Committee Report
The Board of Directors of each Fund has a standing Audit and Oversight Committee (the “Committee”), which consists of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of that Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and who are “independent” as defined in the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. Currently, Messrs. Forbes, Reilly, Ryan, Suddarth, West and Zinbarg and Ms. Montgomery are members of the Committee of each Fund. The principal responsibilities of the Committee are the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Fund’s independent accountants, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Fund management and such independent accountants.
Each Fund has adopted a written Charter for the Committee, which is attached as Exhibit D to this Combined Proxy Statement. Each Committee also has received written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as may be modified or supplemented, from Ernst & YoungLLP (“E&Y”), the independent accountants for MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins, or from Deloitte & ToucheLLP (“D&T”), the independent accountants for Debt Strategies and SHIP. Each Fund’s Board of Directors has also discussed with E&Y and D&T, as applicable, such firm’s independence with respect to the Fund and certain matters required to be discussed by Statements on Auditing Standards No. 61, as may be modified or
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supplemented. Each Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the Fund’s independent accountants is compatible with maintaining the independence of those accountants.
Each Committee also reviews and discusses the audit of the Fund’s financial statements with Fund management and the independent accountants. If any material concerns arise during the course of the audit and the preparation of the audited financial statements mailed to Stockholders and included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders, the Committee would be notified by Fund management or the independent accountants. The Committees received no such notifications for any of the Funds. Following each Committee’s review and discussions regarding the audit of the Fund’s financial statements with Fund management and the independent accountants, the Committee recommended to the Directors that the Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003 in the case of Debt Strategies and SHIP and April 30, 2003 in the case of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins be included in that Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders.
In addition to the above, each Committee also reviews and nominates candidates to serve as non-interested Directors. Each Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by Stockholders of the Fund. The non-interested Directors of each Fund have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with these duties.
Committee and Board of Directors Meetings
During each Fund’s last fiscal year, each of the Directors then in office attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors of that Fund held during the fiscal year and, if a member, the total number of meetings of the Committee held during the period for which he or she served. See Exhibit A for further information about Committee and Board meetings.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the officers and Directors of each Fund and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of each Fund’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the New York Stock Exchange. Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the applicable Fund with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on each Fund’s review of the copies of such forms, and amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect to its most recent fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting persons that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent fiscal year, each Fund believes that all of its officers, Directors, greater than ten percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act due to of the requirements of Section 30 of the Investment Company Act (i.e., any advisory board member, investment adviser or affiliated person of the Fund’s investment adviser) have complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year, except that (i) FAM inadvertently made late Form 4 filings with respect to each of the Funds; and (ii) William Bentley, Lawrence Haber, Jerry Miller, Frank Salerno and Charles Winters, officers of FAM or its affiliate, MLIM, inadvertently made late Form 3 filings with respect to each of the Funds.
Interested Persons
Each Fund considers Mr. Glenn to be an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act based on former positions he held with FAM and its affiliates and/or due to his ownership of securities issued by ML & Co. Mr. Glenn is the President of each Fund.
Compensation of Directors
FAM, the investment adviser of each Fund, pays all compensation to all officers of each Fund and all Directors of each Fund who are affiliated with ML & Co. or its subsidiaries. Each Fund pays each non-interested
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Director a combined fee of $1,900 for each of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins and $2,200 for each of Debt Strategies and Ship per year plus a fee of $150 for each in person Board meeting attended and $150 for each in person Committee meeting attended for each of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins and $325 for each of Debt Strategies and Ship, together with such Director’s out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at such meetings. The Co-Chairmen of each Fund’s Committee receive an additional annual fee of $1,000.
Information relating to the aggregate fees and expenses paid by each Fund to its non-interested Directors during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year is set forth in Exhibit A.
Officers of Each Fund
Information relating to the officers of each Fund is set forth in Exhibit C. Officers of the Funds are elected and appointed by the Board of Directors and hold office until they resign, are removed or are otherwise disqualified to serve.
Stock Ownership
Set forth in Exhibit B to this Combined Proxy Statement is the following information for each Director nominee: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock and AMPS of each Fund owned; (ii) the aggregate dollar range such stock ownership represents; and (iii) the aggregate dollar range of securities owned in all FAM/MLIM-advised funds.
As of the Record Date, no non-interested Director or nominee or his or her immediate family members, owned beneficially or of record any securities of ML & Co. As of the Record Date, the Directors and officers of each Fund as a group owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. At such date, Mr. Glenn, President and a Director of each Fund, and the other officers of each Fund owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of ML & Co.
The Board of Directors of each Fund recommends that the Stockholders vote “FOR” each of the nominees for Director.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Expenses and Methods of Proxy Solicitation; Vote Required
The expenses of preparation, printing and mailing of the enclosed forms of proxy, the accompanying Notice and this Combined Proxy Statement will be borne by the Funds in proportion to their relative net assets. The Funds will reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, of the Funds.
For MuniHoldings, MuniHoldings Ins and Debt Strategies one-third of the Fund’s Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum and for SHIP, a majority of the Fund’s shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Meeting, present in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum. With respect to MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins, the quorum requirements must be met for each Fund’s shares of Common Stock and AMPS, each voting separately as a class.
In order to obtain the necessary quorum at each Meeting supplementary solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview by officers of each Fund. If, by the time scheduled for a Meeting, a quorum of Stockholders is not present or if a quorum is present but sufficient votes to allow action on the proposal are not received from the Stockholders, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies from Stockholders. Any such adjournment
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will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, of the Fund present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the time of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of any such adjournment if they believe that adjournment and additional proxy solicitation are reasonable and in the best interests of the Fund’s Stockholders. Each Fund has retained Georgeson Shareholder, 17 State Street, New York, New York 10004, to assist in the solicitation of proxies at a cost of approximately $3,500 for each Fund plus out-of-pocket expenses, which are estimated to be $500 for each Fund.
Voting Requirement
All Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, represented by properly executed proxies, unless such proxies have previously been revoked, will be voted at each Meeting in accordance with the directions on the proxies; if no direction is indicated, the Shares or shares of Common Stock, as applicable, will be voted “FOR” the Director nominees. In the case of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings, Ins, holders of AMPS, voting separately as a class, are entitled to elect the two Directors designated herein and holders of shares of Common Stock and AMPS, voting together as a single class, are entitled to elect the remaining Directors. In the case of Debt Strategies and SHIP, holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to elect all Directors. Assuming a quorum is present, approval of Item 1 will require the affirmative vote of Stockholders holding at least the percentage of shares indicated below. “Plurality of the votes” means the candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for the same position, but not necessarily a majority of the votes cast.
Fund | Election of AMPS Directors | Election of Other Directors | ||
MuniHoldings | Affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of AMPS, voting as a separate class | Affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of Common Stock and AMPS, voting together as a single class | ||
MuniHoldings Ins | Affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of AMPS, voting as a separate class | Affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of Common Stock and AMPS, voting together as a single class | ||
Debt Strategies | N/A | Affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares of Common Stock | ||
SHIP | N/A | Affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast by the holders of shares of Common Stock | ||
Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions
Broker-dealer firms, including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), holding shares of each Fund in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients, will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the Item before each Meeting. The Funds understand that, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, such broker-dealer firms may, without instructions from their customers and clients, grant authority to the proxies designated to vote on the election of Directors (Item 1) if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firm’s request for voting instructions. The Funds will include shares held of record by broker-dealers as to which such authority has been granted in its tabulation of the total number of shares present for purposes of determining whether the necessary quorum of stockholders of each Fund exists. Proxies that are returned to a Fund but that are marked “abstain” or on which a broker-dealer has declined to vote on any proposal (“broker non-votes”) will be counted as present for the purposes of determining a quorum. MLPF&S has advised each Fund that if it votes
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shares held in its name for which no instructions are received, except as limited by agreement or applicable law, it will do so in the same proportion as the votes received from beneficial owners of those shares for which instructions have been received, whether or not held in nominee name. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have an effect on the vote on Item 1.
Other Matters
Management knows of no other matters to be presented at the Meetings. However, if other matters are presented for a vote at a Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the proxy holders will vote the Shares or shares of Common Stock (as applicable) represented by properly executed proxies according to their judgment on those matters.
Independent Accountants’ Fees
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees paid to the independent accountants for each Fund’s most recent fiscal year for professional services rendered for: (i) the audit of the Funds’ annual financial statements included in the Funds’ reports to Stockholders; (ii) all other audit related services provided to each Fund; and (iii) all other non-audit services provided to the Fund, FAM, and entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with FAM that provide services to the Fund. For each Fund’s most recent fiscal year, the independent accountants did not render any professional services for financial information systems design and implementation services to the Fund, FAM and entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with FAM that provide services to each Fund. The Committee of each Fund has determined that the provision of other audit related services under clause (ii) and the provision of non-audit services under clause (iii) are compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent accountants. Representatives of D&T and E&Y, as applicable, are expected to be present at the Meetings and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to questions from Stockholders.
Fund | Independent Accountants | Audit Fees Charged to the Fund | Other Audit Related Fees Charged to the Fund | Other Fees† | Fiscal Year End | ||||||||
MuniHoldings | E&Y | $ | 37,275 | $ | 16,740 | $ | 150,000 | April 30, 2003 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | E&Y | $ | 37,275 | $ | 16,740 | $ | 150,000 | April 30, 2003 | |||||
Debt Strategies | D&T | $ | 38,000 | $ | 34,800 | $ | 6,412,000 | February 28, 2003 | |||||
SHIP | D&T | $ | 35,000 | $ | 34,800 | $ | 6,412,000 | February 28, 2003 |
† | Includes fees billed for non-audit services rendered to each Fund, FAM and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with FAM, during the year ended December 31, 2002. |
Address of Investment Adviser
The principal office of FAM is located at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.
Annual Report Delivery
Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report for the Fund’s last fiscal year to any Stockholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the applicable Fund, P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011, Attention: Fund Secretary, or to 1-800-637-3863.
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Stockholder Proposals
If a stockholder of any Fund intends to present a proposal at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of such Fund, each of which is anticipated to be held in August 2004, and desires to have the proposal included in the Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, the Stockholder must deliver the proposal to the offices of the appropriate Fund by March 20, 2004. The persons named as proxies in the proxy materials for each Fund’s 2004 Annual Meetings of Stockholders may exercise discretionary authority with respect to any Stockholder proposal presented at such meeting if written notice of such proposal has not been received by the Fund by June 7, 2004. Written proposals and notices should be sent to the Secretary of the applicable Fund (addressed to 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536).
By Order of the Boards of Directors
BRIAN D. STEWART
Secretary of MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. and
MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc.,
BRADLEY J. LUCIDO
Secretary of Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. and
Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc.
Dated: July 17, 2003
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EXHIBIT A
Defined terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings attributed thereto in the Combined Proxy Statement to which these Exhibits are attached.
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO EACH FUND
General Information Pertaining to the Funds
Fund | Defined Term | Fiscal Year End | State of Organization | Meeting Time | ||||
MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. | MuniHoldings | April 30 | MD | 9:00 AM | ||||
MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc. | MuniHoldings Ins | April 30 | MD | 9:15 AM | ||||
Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. | Debt Strategies | February 28 | MD | 9:30 AM | ||||
Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc. | SHIP | February 28 | MD | 9:45 AM |
Shares Outstanding as of the Record Date | ||||
Fund | Shares | AMPS | ||
MuniHoldings | 13,795,227 | 4,400 | ||
MuniHoldings Ins | 12,867,541 | 5,360 | ||
Debt Strategies | 104,429,224 | N/A | ||
SHIP | 55,238,665 | N/A |
Board and Committee Meetings
Set forth in the table below is information regarding Board and Committee meetings held, current annual and per meeting fees paid to each non-interested Director and the aggregate fees and expenses paid by each Fund to the non-interested Directors during each Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.
Board | Committee | |||||||||||||
Fund | No. of Meetings Held* | Annual Fee ($) | Per Meeting Fee ($)** | No. of Meetings Held* | Annual Fee ($)*** | Per Meeting Fee ($)** | Aggregate Fees and Expenses ($) | |||||||
MuniHoldings | 6 | 1,900 | 150 | 6 | 1,900 | 150 | 37,075 | |||||||
MuniHoldings Ins | 6 | 1,900 | 150 | 6 | 1,900 | 150 | 37,401 | |||||||
Debt Strategies | 7 | 2,200 | 325 | 6 | 2,200 | 325 | 56,051 | |||||||
SHIP | 7 | 2,200 | 325 | 6 | 2,200 | 325 | 55,416 |
* | Includes telephonic meetings. |
** | The fee is payable for each meeting attended in person. A fee is not paid for telephonic meetings. |
*** | Does not include the additional $1,000 fee paid to the Co-Chairmen of the Committee. |
A-1
EXHIBIT B
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Year in Which Each Nominee of Each Fund Became a Director
Debt Strategies | SHIP | MuniHoldings | MuniHoldings Ins | |||||
Forbes | 1997 | 1993 | 1997 | 1998 | ||||
Glenn | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | 1999 | ||||
Montgomery | 1997 | 1993 | 1997 | 1998 | ||||
Reilly | 1997 | 1993 | 1997 | 1998 | ||||
Ryan | 1997 | 1993 | 1997 | 1998 | ||||
Suddarth | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | ||||
West | 1997 | 1993 | 1997 | 1998 | ||||
Zinbarg | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 |
B-1
Ownership of Shares and AMPS as of the Record Date
Name | Common Stock | AMPS | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity in the Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities in all FAM/MLIM- Advised Funds overseen by each Director Nominee in the Merrill Lynch Family of Funds | ||||||
Interested Director: | ||||||||||
Terry K. Glenn | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None | |||||||
Non-Interested Directors: | ||||||||||
Ronald W. Forbes | MuniHoldings | 759 | None | $10,001-$50,000 | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | 1,501 | N/A | $10,001-$50,000 | |||||||
SHIP | 703 | N/A | $1-$10,000 | |||||||
Cynthia A. Montgomery | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None | |||||||
Charles C. Reilly | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None | |||||||
Kevin A. Ryan | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None | |||||||
Roscoe S. Suddarth | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None | |||||||
Richard R. West | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None | |||||||
Edward D. Zinbarg | MuniHoldings | None | None | None | over $100,000 | |||||
MuniHoldings Ins | None | None | None | |||||||
Debt Strategies | None | N/A | None | |||||||
SHIP | None | N/A | None |
B-2
Compensation of Non-Interested Directors
Name | Debt Strategies | SHIP | MuniHoldings | MuniHoldings Inc. | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Each Fund’s Expense | Estimated Annual Benefits upon Retirement from Each Fund | Aggregate Compensation from Funds and Other FAM/MLIM- Advised Funds | ||||||||||||
Ronald W. Forbes* | $ | 8,650 | $ | 8,650 | $ | 6,000 | $ | 6,000 | None | None | $ | 308,400 | |||||||
Cynthia A. Montgomery | $ | 7,650 | $ | 7,650 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | None | None | $ | 266,400 | |||||||
Charles C. Reilly* | $ | 8,650 | $ | 8,650 | $ | 6,000 | $ | 6,000 | None | None | $ | 308,400 | |||||||
Kevin A. Ryan | $ | 7,650 | $ | 7,650 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | None | None | $ | 266,400 | |||||||
Roscoe S. Suddarth | $ | 7,650 | $ | 7,650 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | None | None | $ | 266,400 | |||||||
Richard R. West | $ | 7,650 | $ | 7,650 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | None | None | $ | 275,400 | |||||||
Edward D. Zinbarg | $ | 7,650 | $ | 7,650 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | None | None | $ | 266,400 |
* | Co-Chairman of each Fund’s Committee. |
B-3
EXHIBIT C
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE OFFICERS
Name, Address* and Age | Position(s) Held with applicable Funds Term of Office** and | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||
Terry K. Glenn (62) | President† of each Fund since 1999 | President and Chairman of the FAM/MLIM-advised funds since 1999; Chairman (Americas Region) of MLIM from 2000 to 2002; Executive Vice President of FAM and MLIM (which terms as used herein include their corporate predecessors) from 1983 to 2000; President of FAM Distributors, Inc. (“FAMD”) from 1986 to 2002 and Director thereof from 1991 to 2002; Executive Vice President and Director of Princeton Services, Inc. (“Princeton Services”) from 1993 to 2002; President of Princeton Administrators, L.P. from 1988 to 2002; Director of Financial Data Services, Inc. from 1985 to 2002. | ||
Donald C. Burke (43) | Treasurer of each Fund since 1999 and Vice President of each Fund as follows: MuniHoldings since 1997; MuniHoldings Ins since 1998; Debt Strategies since 1997; and SHIP since 1994. | First Vice President of FAM and MLIM since 1997 and Treasurer thereof since 1999; Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1999; Vice President of FAMD since 1999; Vice President of FAM and MLIM from 1990 to 1997; Director of Taxation of MLIM since 1990. | ||
Kenneth A. Jacob (52) | Senior Vice President of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins since 2002 | Managing Director of MLIM since 2000; Director (Municipal Tax-Exempt Fund Management) of MLIM from 1997 to 2000. | ||
John M. Loffredo (38) | Senior Vice President of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins since 2002 | Managing Director of MLIM since 2000 and Director (Municipal Tax-Exempt Fund Management) of MLIM from 1998 to 2000. | ||
Robert A. DiMella, CFA (36) | Vice President of MuniHoldings since 1997 and MuniHoldings Ins since 1999 | Director (Municipal Tax-Exempt Fund Management) of MLIM since 2002; Vice President of MLIM from 1996 to 2001. | ||
Joseph Matteo (39) | Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Debt Strategies and SHIP since 2001 | Director (Global Fixed Income) of MLIM since 2001; Vice President of MLIM from 1997 to 2001. |
(footnotes on following page)
C-1
Name, Address* and Age | Position(s) Held with each Fund; Term of and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||
Kevin Booth (48) | Vice President and Portfolio Manager of Debt Strategies and SHIP since 2001 | Director (Global Fixed Income) of MLIM since 1998; Vice President of MLIM from 1991 to 1998. | ||
Bradley J. Lucido (37) | Secretary of Debt Strategies and SHIP since 1999 | Director (Legal Advisory) of MLIM since 1998; Vice President of MLIM from 1991 to 1998. | ||
Brian D. Stewart (34) | Secretary of MuniHoldings and MuniHoldings Ins since 2002 | Vice President of MLIM since 2002; attorney with Reed SmithLLP from 2001 to 2002; attorney with Saul EwingLLP from 1999 to 2001. |
* | The address of each officer is P.O. Box 9011, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011. |
** | Elected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of each Fund. |
† | Prior to 1999 Mr. Glenn served as Executive Vice President of each Fund. |
C-2
EXHIBIT D
Charter of the Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors/Trustees
For Exchange Listed Funds
Although the audit committee of an investment company also serves as a nominating committee, the following charter pertains only to each audit and nominating committee’s duties as an audit committee. The Board of Directors/Trustees of each investment company listed on Appendix A hereto has adopted the following audit committee charter:
I. Composition of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee shall be composed of at least three Directors/Trustees:
(a) | each of whom shall not be an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an “affiliated person” of the Fund, as described in Section 10A(m) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”); |
(b) | each of whom shall not accept any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Fund (other than fees for serving on the Board of Directors/Trustees or any committee thereof) or have any other relationship to the Fund that may interfere with the exercise of such person’s independence from the Fund and Fund management; |
(c) | each of whom shall otherwise satisfy the applicable independence requirements for any stock exchange or market quotation system on which Fund shares are listed or quoted; |
(d) | each of whom shall be financially literate, as such qualification is interpreted by the Board of Directors/Trustees in its business judgment, or shall become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the Audit Committee; and |
(e) | at least one of whom shall have accounting or related financial management expertise as the Board of Directors/Trustees interprets such qualification in its business judgment. |
The Audit Committee shall determine whether at least one member of the Audit Committee is a “financial expert” as defined in rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall consider whether any member thereof serves on the audit committee of any other public companies.
II. Purposes of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the Board of Directors/Trustees, is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the Fund’s independent accountants, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Fund management and such independent accountants. The Audit Committee should report regularly to the Board of Directors/Trustees with respect to the matters described in Section III of this Audit Committee Charter. The Fund’s independent accountants report directly to the Audit Committee.
III. Responsibilities and Duties of the Audit Committee
The policies and procedures of the Audit Committee shall remain flexible to facilitate its ability to react to changing conditions and to generally discharge its functions. The following listed responsibilities describe areas of attention in broad terms.
D-1
To carry out its purposes, the Audit Committee shall have the following responsibilities and duties:
(a) | upon submission of an application form by the Fund’s independent accountants to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, to request: (i) a copy of such application form; (ii) any material amendments to such application form; and (iii) the written findings of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in connection with that Board’s inspection of the Fund’s independent accountants; |
(b) | to preapprove all auditing services to be provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants*; |
(c) | to preapprove all non-auditing services, including tax services, to be provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants in accordance with the 1934 Act; provided, however, that the preapproval requirement with respect to the provision of non-auditing services to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants may be waived by the Audit Committee under the circumstances described in the 1934 Act**; |
(d) | to ensure that the Fund’s independent accountants submit on a periodic basis to the Audit Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between such independent accountants and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, to actively engage in a dialogue with the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may affect the objectivity and independence of such independent accountants and, if deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee, to recommend that the Board of Directors/Trustees take appropriate action in response to the report of such independent accountants to satisfy itself of the independence of such independent accountants; |
(e) | to receive and consider specific representations from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to the independence of such accountants, audit partner rotation, and conflicts of interest described in Section 10A(l) of the 1934 Act, and to consider whether the provision of any non-audit services to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants as described in Section III(c) of this Audit Committee Charter is compatible with maintaining the independence of those accountants; |
(f) | to review arrangements for annual and special audits and the scope of such audits with the Fund’s independent accountants; |
(g) | to review and discuss the Fund’s audited financial statements with Fund management; |
(h) | to discuss with the independent accountants those matters required by Statement of Accounting Standards Nos. 61 and 90 relating to the Fund’s financial statements, including, without limitation, any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent accountants, or any other results of any audit; |
(i) | to cause to be prepared and to review and submit any report, including any recommendation of the Audit Committee, required by SEC Rules to be included in the Fund’s annual proxy statement; |
* | The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee the authority to grant such preapprovals; provided, however, that the Audit Committee shall not delegate preapproval of the audit required by the 1934 Act. The decisions of any member or members of the Audit Committee to whom such authority has been given shall be reported to the full Audit Committee at each of its scheduled meetings. |
** | The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more designated members of the Audit Committee the authority to grant such preapprovals. The decisions of any member or members of the Audit Committee to whom such authority has been given shall be reported to the full Audit Committee at each of its scheduled meetings. |
D-2
(j) | to review legal and regulatory matters presented by counsel and the Fund’s independent accountants that may have a material impact on the Fund’s financial statements; |
(k) | to establish and administer policies and procedures relating to: (i) the hiring of employees or former employees of the Fund’s independent accountants; and (ii) the resolution of any disagreements between Fund management and the Fund’s independent accountants regarding accounting and/or financial reporting policies and procedures; |
(l) | to consider with the Fund’s independent accountants their comments with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, practices and internal controls and management’s responses thereto, including, without limitation, the effect on the Fund of any recommendation of changes in accounting principles or practices by management or the independent accountants; |
(m) | to receive and consider reports from the Fund’s independent accountants regarding: (i) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used; (ii) all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with Fund management, ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent accountants; and (iii) other material written communications between the independent accountants and Fund management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences; |
(n) | to receive reports from the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, regarding: (i) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of Fund internal controls that could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and have identified for Fund’s independent accountants any material weaknesses in internal controls; (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves Fund management or other employees who have a significant role in the Fund’s internal controls; and (iii) whether or not there were significant changes in the Fund’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Fund’s internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses; |
(o) | to establish procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; |
(p) | to discuss with Fund management and the Fund’s independent auditors policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management and the quality and adequacy of the Fund’s internal controls and processes that could materially affect the Fund’s financial statements and financial reporting; |
(q) | to assist the Fund, if necessary, in preparing any written affirmation or written certification required to be filed with any stock exchange on which Fund shares are listed; |
(r) | to review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter on an annual basis and recommend any changes to the Board of Directors/Trustees; and |
(s) | to perform such other functions consistent with this Audit Committee Charter, the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as applicable, the Fund’s By-laws, and applicable law, as the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors/Trustees deems necessary or appropriate. |
In fulfilling their responsibilities under this Audit Committee Charter, it is recognized that members of the Audit Committee are not full-time employees of the Fund. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures. Each member of the Audit Committee shall be entitled to rely on (i) the integrity of those persons
D-3
and organizations inside and outside the Fund from which the Audit Committee receives information and (ii) the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Audit Committee by such persons or organizations, absent actual knowledge to the contrary (which actual knowledge shall be promptly reported to the Board of Directors/Trustees).
Fund management is responsible for maintaining appropriate systems for accounting. The Fund’s independent accountants are responsible for conducting a proper audit of the Fund’s financial statements and are ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the ultimate authority and responsibility to select (subject, if applicable, to shareholder approval) and evaluate the Fund’s independent accountants, to determine the compensation of the Fund’s independent accountants and, where appropriate, to replace the Fund’s independent accountants.
IV. Meetings
The Audit Committee shall meet regularly with the Fund’s independent accountants (outside the presence of Fund management) and at least once annually with the representatives of Fund management responsible for the financial and accounting operations of the Fund. The Audit Committee shall hold special meetings at such times as the Audit Committee believes appropriate. Members of the Audit Committee may participate in a meeting of the Audit Committee by means of conference call or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear each other.
V. Assistance from Fund Management; Authority to Engage Advisers; Funding
The appropriate officers of the Fund shall provide or arrange to provide such information, data and services as the Audit Committee may request. The Audit Committee shall have the power and authority to take all action it believes necessary or appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the power and authority to retain independent counsel and other advisers. The Fund shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee as a committee of the Board of Directors/Trustees, for payment of compensation to: (i) the Fund’s independent accountants and (ii) any advisers employed by the Audit Committee under this Section V.
Dated: May 23, 2000
Revised: March 19, 2001
Further Revised: November 25, 2002
D-4
APPENDIX A
Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc.
MuniHoldings Florida Insured Fund
MuniHoldings Fund, Inc.
MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc.
MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc.
MuniHoldings New Jersey Insured Fund, Inc.
MuniHoldings New York Insured Fund, Inc.
MuniVest Fund, Inc.
MuniVest Fund II, Inc.
D-5
COMMON STOCK
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND, INC.
P.O. BOX 9011
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald C. Burke, Terry K. Glenn and Brian D. Stewart as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 26, 2003 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.
By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
Please mark boxes /X/ or [X] in blue or black ink.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For All ¨ | Withhold All ¨ | For All Except ¨ | To withhold authority to vote for certain nominees only, mark “For All Except” and write each such nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||
01) Ronald W. Forbes | ||||||||
02) Terry K. Glenn | ||||||||
03) Cynthia A. Montgomery | ||||||||
04) Kevin A. Ryan | ||||||||
05) Roscoe S. Suddarth | ||||||||
06) Edward D. Zinbarg |
|
2. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
Dated: , 2003 |
X |
Signature |
X |
Signature, if held jointly |
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
AUCTION MARKET
PREFERRED STOCK
MUNIHOLDINGS INSURED FUND, INC.
P.O. BOX 9011
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald C. Burke, Terry K. Glenn and Brian D. Stewart as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all the Auction Market Preferred Stock of MuniHoldings Insured Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 26, 2003 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.
By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
Please mark boxes /X/ or [X] in blue or black ink.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For All ¨ | Withhold All ¨ | For All Except ¨ | To withhold authority to vote for certain nominees only, mark “For All Except” and write each such nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||
01) Ronald W. Forbes | ||||||||
02) Terry K. Glenn | ||||||||
03) Cynthia A. Montgomery | ||||||||
04) Charles C. Reilly | ||||||||
05) Kevin A. Ryan | ||||||||
06) Roscoe S. Suddarth | ||||||||
07) Richard R. West | ||||||||
08) Edward D. Zinbarg |
|
2. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
Dated: , 2003 |
X |
Signature |
X |
Signature, if held jointly |
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
COMMON STOCK
MUNIHOLDINGS FUND, INC.
P.O. BOX 9011
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald C. Burke, Terry K. Glenn and Brian D. Stewart as proxies, each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 26, 2003 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1.
By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
Please mark boxes /X/ or [X] in blue or black ink.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For All ¨ | Withhold All ¨ | For All Except ¨ | To withhold authority to vote for certain nominees only, mark “For All Except” and write each such nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||
01) Ronald W. Forbes | ||||||||
02) Terry K. Glenn | ||||||||
03) Cynthia A. Montgomery | ||||||||
04) Kevin A. Ryan | ||||||||
05) Roscoe S. Suddarth | ||||||||
06) Edward D. Zinbarg |
|
2. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
Dated: , 2003 |
X |
Signature |
X |
Signature, if held jointly |
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
AUCTION MARKET
PREFERRED STOCK
MUNIHOLDINGS FUND, INC.
P.O. BOX 9011
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald C. Burke, Terry K. Glenn and Brian D. Stewart as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all the Auction Market Preferred Stock of MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 26, 2003 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.
By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
Please mark boxes /X/ or [X] in blue or black ink.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For All ¨ | Withhold All ¨ | For All Except ¨ | To withhold authority to vote for certain nominees only, mark “For All Except” and write each such nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||
01) Ronald W. Forbes | ||||||||
02) Terry K. Glenn | ||||||||
03) Cynthia A. Montgomery | ||||||||
04) Charles C. Reilly | ||||||||
05) Kevin A. Ryan | ||||||||
06) Roscoe S. Sudarth | ||||||||
07) Richard R. West | ||||||||
08) Edward D. Zinbarg |
|
2. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
Dated: , 2003 |
X |
Signature |
X |
Signature, if held jointly |
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.
P.O. BOX 9011
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald C. Burke, Terry K. Glenn and Bradley J. Lucido as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 26, 2003 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.
By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
Please mark boxes /X/ or [X] in blue or black ink.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For All ¨ | Withhold All ¨ | For All Except ¨ | To withhold authority to vote for certain nominees only, mark “For All Except” and write each such nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||
01) Ronald W. Forbes | ||||||||
02) Terry K. Glenn | ||||||||
03) Cynthia A. Montgomery | ||||||||
04) Charles C. Reilly | ||||||||
05) Kevin A. Ryan | ||||||||
06) Roscoe S. Suddarth | ||||||||
07) Richard R. West | ||||||||
08) Edward D. Zinbarg |
2. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
Dated: , 2003 |
X |
Signature |
X |
Signature, if held jointly |
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
SENIOR HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO, INC.
P.O. BOX 9011
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Donald C. Burke, Terry K. Glenn and Bradley J. Lucido as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of Senior High Income Portfolio, Inc. (the “Fund”) held of record by the undersigned on June 26, 2003 at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on August 25, 2003 or any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSAL 1.
By signing and dating the reverse side of this card, you authorize the proxies to vote Proposal 1 as marked, or if not marked, to vote “FOR” Proposal 1, and to use their discretion to vote for any other matter as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you do not intend to personally attend the meeting, please complete and return this card at once in the enclosed envelope.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
Please mark boxes /X/ or [X] in blue or black ink.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
For All ¨ | Withhold All ¨ | For All Except ¨ | To withhold authority to vote for certain nominees only, mark “For All Except” and write each such nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||
01) Ronald W. Forbes | ||||||||
02) Terry K. Glenn | ||||||||
03) Cynthia A. Montgomery | ||||||||
04) Charles C. Reilly | ||||||||
05) Kevin A. Ryan | ||||||||
06) Roscoe S. Suddarth | ||||||||
07) Richard R. West | ||||||||
08) Edward D. Zinbarg |
|
2. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When stock is held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
Dated: , 2003 |
X |
Signature |
X |
Signature, if held jointly |
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.